The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has raised serious human rights concerns over the mass detention of women and girls in Herat by Taliban morality police for alleged non-compliance with dress requirements. The statement, issued on 8 June, follows reports that at least 21 women and girls were arrested across multiple locations in the western Afghan city.

What Happened in Herat

According to reports citing local sources, Taliban morality police detained at least 21 women and girls in several parts of Herat, including the southern road, Almas Market, and the Qasr area. Among those reportedly detained was a nurse employed at Herat Regional Hospital. The detentions followed a directive issued by the Taliban's Directorate for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in Herat, which ordered male family members to ensure women comply with the Taliban's interpretation of Islamic dress requirements.

Under the directive, women seen in public without a prayer veil, with uncovered faces, wearing tight clothing, or wearing makeup could face detention and transfer to a women's detention facility, according to reports.

What UNAMA Said

In a post on X, UNAMA stated it was 'concerned over multiple arrests and detentions of women in Herat for alleged non-compliance with dress requirements, which raises serious human rights concerns.' The mission added: 'We remind the de facto authorities that all people have the right to freedom of movement and that all persons, both women and men, are entitled to equality before the law.'

Broader Pattern of Restrictions

The Herat detentions are part of a wider escalation in the enforcement of Taliban morality laws across Afghanistan. Human rights groups have documented increased restrictions on women's dress, movement, and participation in public life since the Taliban's morality law came into force. This comes amid a broader, systematic rollback of women's rights that has accelerated since the Taliban seized power in 2021.

Since 2021, the Taliban has banned girls from attending secondary schools beyond the sixth grade, prohibited women from studying at universities, and imposed sweeping restrictions on employment and access to public spaces. Notably, on 4 June, the third round of university entrance examinations — known as the Kankor — began in Kabul for the fourth consecutive year without female participation. Rahimullah Haqqani, administrative and technical deputy head of the National Examination Authority, said over 110,000 candidates appeared across the first three rounds of the examinations.

International Response and What Comes Next

UNAMA's public statement signals growing international frustration with Taliban enforcement practices. Human rights organisations have repeatedly called on the international community to apply sustained pressure on the Taliban to reverse its gender-based restrictions. With the morality law's implementation reportedly intensifying across multiple provinces, advocacy groups warn that conditions for Afghan women and girls are likely to deteriorate further without coordinated global action.